Tim Pawlenty only 2012 contender at GOP Hispanic event

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – In a crowded field of 2012 presidential hopefuls, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will have the stage to himself at a conference Friday of Hispanic Republicans, giving him unfettered access to a key voting bloc in the largest battleground state.

If Republicans want to make inroads in the Hispanic community, “first of all, show up,” Pawlenty told POLITICO Thursday. “You’ve got to listen – earn their trust, earn their respect and earn their support.”

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VIDEO: 'Show up' for Latinos

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None of his fellow contenders decided to take the same course. Organizers of the newly-formed Hispanic Leadership Network, which includes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, extended invites to every potential Republican candidate, but only Pawlenty accepted.

The conference comes after a year in which Hispanic Republicans rose to governor in New Mexico and Nevada, won a Senate seat in Florida and took seven House seats. But Republicans are still struggling to make lasting gains in the community, stymied by a position on immigration that doesn’t line up with that of a majority of Latinos.

Pawlenty will argue in his speech Friday that the GOP’s conversation with Hispanics shouldn’t start and end with immigration – a view held by Bush, who penned an editorial this week promoting the conference, but mentioned immigration only once.

“The conservative movement – Republicans – need to do a better job of connecting and earning the support of Latino voters,” Pawlenty said. “It’s a terrific opportunity for Republicans to say to the Latino community, ‘Here’s why we think you should support our cause.’”

“People wrongly think that all Hispanic and Latino voters care about is the immigration issue,” he continued. “When we go to voters in the Latino community, guess what? They want to know about jobs. … Yes, they’re concerned about the immigration issue. But to say that’s all they care about is not accurate.”

The Republicans involved in the Hispanic Leadership Network say the party must soften its tone on immigration, but not necessarily its policy positions.

One panel at the conference is titled “Immigration & Security Panel: Protecting Hispanic Communities at the Border and Beyond,” and another is titled, “Media & Messaging: Communicating Principles with Precision.”

But America’s Voice argues a shift in tone isn’t enough. The group, which advocates for legalization program for illegal immigrants, released a memo Thursday challenging the organizers.

“They seem to think that kinder, gentler rhetoric and reaching out on ‘common values’ – tied to the same anti-immigrant policies – will do the trick. Instead, Republicans should learn that appealing to Latino voters requires a real conversion on immigration reform, not just a conversation,” the memo stated.

Pawlenty pushed an immigration agenda in Minnesota that can be described as centrist, at least by Republican standards.

“He is no Tom Tancredo or Steve King, for that matter,” said Steven Schier, a political science professor at Carleton College, referring to two hard-line illegal immigration foes.

Stymied by the legislature, Pawlenty issued several executive orders, such as requiring verification of the citizenship of all state contractors and employees and directing state law enforcement officers to work with the federal government on enforcing immigration laws. He ran an ad during his first run for governor in 2002 that promoted tracking immigrants through driver licenses, say “Terrorists are here.”

He has voiced support for reconsidering the 14th Amendment, which provides citizenship to any baby born in the United States, and defended the Arizona immigration enforcement law.

At the same time, he has called for a temporary guest worker program for immigrants.

“I think he’s going to sell himself as an open-minded conservative and (his appearance at the conference) is evidence of that,” Schier said. ‘It is a great opportunity to be the only GOP presidential candidate at this Hispanic conference. It gives him a chance to raise his profile.”

America's Voice has it right, change in tone without change in policy message is NOT ENOUGH.

To Hispanic Republicans who organized event, you are members of a party that shows you how much they care about you and respect your voice by ignoring your event EN MASS. And watch out for Pawlenty! The only thing that seems to separate him from hardliners is he's pro guest worker program. THAT'S IT! THAT'S ALL! If he were any more 'centrist' he'd be a hole in a donut.

How much more humiliation will you allow yourselves to be subjected to before realizing the Republican party only cares about rich, white people?

Ever think about going Independent? That's the future, that's where the real power for Hispanics may ultimately rest.

Although it's true Pawlenty brings the Latin community a pathetic record and mainly unpalatable positions, he will be the big Republican winner here. It's a brave (given his record) and politically wise move on his part. Clearly, it's a slap across the face to Hispanic voters from the rest of the GOP presidential field and it's a slight slap across Jeb Bush's face, too, given the fact that he has put his full political weight behind the effort to get this new network off the ground and grow the party. Pawlenty has risen in my esteem; here's hoping he doesn't sink again after I read what he says in his speech.

At the same time, he has called for a temporary guest worker program for immigrants.

Do you think that any Reporter in the Main Left Stream Media knows that currently the USA has 11 Guest worker Programs? That those ELEVEN GUEST WORKER Programs bring over 2 Million legal workers to the USA Every Year?

Do you think that any Reporter for the MLSM will ever print that easily checkable fact? And that FEW of those workers ever leave the USA. Because the USA does not have any exit system for checking expired visas. And people like Bush and Pawlenty..and the Media.......don't want any exit system for checking that legal workers ever leave the USA.

Did you know that only 10% of all AGriculture jobs are held by Illegal Workers? That is certainly not ever printed, but easily checked in DHS statistics.

Did you know that 40% of once good paying, Democratic Union jobs..like brick layers, carpenters, electricians, pipefitters are now held by Illegal Workers? And not only the Democrats love it..Republicans, who chant JOBS! JOBS...love it. They love it.

Did you know that the threat Politicans give us..Like Greta Van Progressive on Fox News and NAFTA Newt Gingrich..that Hispanics are the fastest growing segment of the Population and Republicans will lose in 2012 if they don't embrace Comprehensive Immigration Reform..and Newt and Greta last night agreed that amnesty could be done..at the same time as the border is enforced. good bye Newt. Don't watch Greta anymore do I. That threat is a lie. A distortion. It depends on Massive amnesties setting off more massive chain migration, and no change in Birthright citizenship or chain migration.

Did you know that American Women..native born..have the highest birthrates in the Industrialized world? White, black and Native American women have 2 children per woman. Latino women in the USA have the same birth rate. NOW Muslim women have a birth rate of 8 childfen per woman..but that is a different issue.

WITHOUT MASSIVE AMNESTIES..........THE LATINO PORTION OF THE USA VOTE WILL STAY AT 9% OR INCREASE SLIGHTLY. THE MASSIVE AMNESTIES OF 1986..REAGAN..1990..FATHER BUSH...1994,1997,1998, 1999, 200..CLINTON..AND 1995..FARM AG WORKERS DONE BY THE NEW CHAIR OF THE REPLICAN HOUSE COMMITTEE..JUMPED OVER STEVE KING.....WERE STOPPED IN 2000.

Did you know that Bush tried to ram Latino Amnesties through in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008. Obama tried in 2009. 2010. he did grant one massive amnesty when he gave all illegal Haitins here Temportary Protected Status,,with a Green Card which is the first step to citizenship in Five years. None will ever leave. More come in every day. It is all behind closed doors. The Media.....could care less. Ditto Republicans and Democrats. The money is that good.

The American People..working with genuine grass roots groups supporting American Workers..like NumbersUSA..non profit..no tax money..actually has audits which it posts...(unlike LaRaza which sits on 200 million of your tax dollars)...THE USA HAS FOUGHT BACK EVERY AMNESTY CHARGE SINCE 2000. IF WE CONTINUE....IF WE KEEP FIGHTING.............THERE WILL BE NO MASSIVE INCREASE IN THE LATINO DEMOGRAPHIC. OR A SLIGHT ONE. IT IS AN EMPTY THREAT. AND IT IS DISGUSTING THAT POLITICANS GET UP AND THREATEN US WITH THAT OVER AND OVER. NO OTHER NATION WOULD ALLOW ITSELF TO BE SO INSULTED.

If Republicans want to make inroads in the Hispanic community, “first of all, show up,” Pawlenty told POLITICO Thursday. “You’ve got to listen – earn their trust, earn their respect and earn their support.”

So to earn the Latino vote..we must throw our borders open, grant huge amnesties to people who will be very poor, who will overwhelm our education system, our medical system, our welfare systems..as has already happened in at least six state...disregard that they broke the law and knew they were doing it...disregard the jobs they take from American workers..particulary poor Americans..and Construction workers..meat packers..road jobs..truckers..We EARN their respect by LEGALIZING..document theft..identify theft..welfare fraud....Pawlenty might want to pay that for their support..

FLORIDA..IN THE LAST ELECTION DID NOT. FLORIDA IS WHERE THE BUSHTEAM IS HAVING THIS 'CONFERENCE'. NEWT GINGRICH, WHOM MANY CONSIDER A STALKING HORSE FOR THEM, WAS ON GRETA LAST NIGHT..SPREADING THE HISPIANIC OUTREACH FAIRY DUST.

November 2010. Rich Scott elected Gov. of Florida. After hundreds of millions of smear campaigns, 24/7 videos running against him by TeamBush..RNC..Karl Rove Front groups........He won the Primary..against a Rep. Profressional who said "We don't need Az's law in Florida." Seems the voters differed. THEN he beat a Democratic Golden Girl..with millions and millions behind her.

Rich Scott...battling that money..defining him as crook....24/7..WON ON ONE ISSUE. HE PROMISED TO BRING ARIZONA'S LAW TO FLORIDA. AND HE WON.

Rep. Kandorsky...of PA..a Gentle Democrat is on tape saying.."RicK Scott should be backed up to a wall and shot". over his immigration stand.

SO HOW DID HISPANIC OUTREACH DEMOCRATS DO IN FLORIDA IN 2010?

THEY LOST THE STATE HOUSE. THEY LOST THE STATE SENATE. THEY LOST THE SENATOR POSITION TO MARCO RUBIO..WHO IS BETTER ON IMMIGRATION KNEFRA MEEKS AND OR CHARLIE CHRIST. OF COURSE, IT WOULD NOT TAKE MUCH TO BE BETTER THAN THOSE TWO...BUT HE WAS THE LESSER OF THE THREE EVILS.

DEMOCRATS..WITH THEIR HISPANIC OUTREACH...LOST SIX HOUSE SEATS IN THE USA HOUSE. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY WIPED OUT IN FLORIDA.

NOW POLITICO..AND PAWLENTY..AND NEWT..AND JEB..AND KARL...AND FOXNEWS...ARE SAYING REPUBLICANS NEED TO DO SOME 'HISPANIC OUTREACH' TO WIN IN 2012.

Yes, every political candidate has the right to court voters, but Reps as the article stated appealing to Latino voters "requires a real conversion to immigration reform not just a conversation." Pawlenty was a fairly centrist R on immigration reform in MN - albeit cherry-picking the issues he approved.

Pawlenty has bigger political issues of his own. He used Recovery money to "balance the budget" in MN, and then left office with a 6.2 BILLION dollar short fall. He could not help a R win his seat in Nov., had a 38% approval rating with registered Reps in 2009. It is highly unlikely he would carry his own state in a 2012 presidential election, so I keep wondering why Politico is so enamored with him?

In the 12/19/10 MN State Tribune the headline splashed across the Opinion page was - "The Legacy of Tim Pawlenty. THANKS/NO THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES." It's all about Tim - who's not interested in governing. Someone needs to take a poll of his approval rating in MN now. It doesn't bode well if he couldn't win his own state.

If Politico wants to peak readers interest in a GOP contender - how about an article on Jon Huntsman instead of Pawlenty, who is more than a long shot for 2012.